[BTCC] BTCC 2020 season discussion, News and Rumours!

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by billy bleach

VAG out of all Internal Combustion motorsport - where does that leave Shedden?

Cupra are planning a new ICE TCR car....

[Steel Wheels]

Originally Posted by Pickles

Same with Plato & Smiley

PMR?

[Pickles]

Originally Posted by Steel Wheels

PMR?

I don't have anything to back this up, just thought if Chilton is off to BTC and Butcher is looking at Motorbase then this could also happen

[porsche962fan]

why would Butcher want to go to na inferior car/team ?

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

why would Butcher want to go to na inferior car/team ?

Sometimes the choice of seats comes down to available budget, and other drivers on the market.

If every driver was only motivated to be in the best car, the field would shrink massively.

[Jay87]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

why would Butcher want to go to na inferior car/team ?

Agreed. The Ford is like a mobile chicane, first Jackson then Chilton anytime they managed to get it near the front all they are doing is defending from faster cars

[thetool]

It's not the car, it's the team that runs them. Motorbase have never been up to the job of being a front line BTCC team for whatever reason. Look at the calibre of driver they've had, and in almost every instance that driver has done worse for Motorbase than elsewhere, sometimes in almost the same car! Take Mat Jackson in 2008 and then 2010. Both years in a similar BMW 320SI, a car that won the championship the year before. Run by Jackson Motorsport with RBM (team that ran Priaulx in E/WTCC) he came second in the championship, only beaten by the dominant Giovanardi in the 888 Vectra. Just two years later he was little more than a midfield runner for Motorbase. Motorbase also never got the same performance out of the Focus that Arena had. I can't claim to be able to provide any insight as to why they are unable to compete at the very front of the grid, just that year in and year out they are amongst the biggest disappointments.

[RS67]

Originally Posted by thetool

It's not the car, it's the team that runs them. Motorbase have never been up to the job of being a front line BTCC team for whatever reason. Look at the calibre of driver they've had, and in almost every instance that driver has done worse for Motorbase than elsewhere, sometimes in almost the same car! Take Mat Jackson in 2008 and then 2010. Both years in a similar BMW 320SI, a car that won the championship the year before. Run by Jackson Motorsport with RBM (team that ran Priaulx in E/WTCC) he came second in the championship, only beaten by the dominant Giovanardi in the 888 Vectra. Just two years later he was little more than a midfield runner for Motorbase. Motorbase also never got the same performance out of the Focus that Arena had. I can't claim to be able to provide any insight as to why they are unable to compete at the very front of the grid, just that year in and year out they are amongst the biggest disappointments.

Motorbase were using an ngtc engine in the Focus, and running against other NGTC and S2000 powered cars. So not really fair to compare their results against Arena when all cars had same spec engines without any equalization handicaps.
2016 season, Jackson took 5 race wins in the Motorbase Focus which was equalled but not beaten that year, Jackson also led the most laps out of the whole season.
That would be very hard to do for a team that can't run a car.

[porsche962fan]

Originally Posted by crmalcolm

Sometimes the choice of seats comes down to available budget, and other drivers on the market.

If every driver was only motivated to be in the best car, the field would shrink massively.

but Bucther won the indy titles fro them, why would AMD want to change it if it's ain't broke ?


if Butcher was moving to someone like WSR / Dynamics you could udnerstand but going to Motorbase would be a step down

[VIVA GT]

I always used to rate Tom Chilton but am beginning to think he's not as sharp as I thought. Let's face it, Michael Caine made him look a bit shabby in the last couple of rounds...

[S griffin]

I’d say Chilton has got better with age, certainly a lot more level headed these days and is a lot more serious about his job

[porsche962fan]

he peformed best during his Star Wars days

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

but Bucther won the indy titles fro them, why would AMD want to change it if it's ain't broke ?

So which is the primary question here?

Why would Butcher leave AmD? Or why would AmD select a different driver over Butcher?

The answer to both though is in the finance.

Prime example - why didn't Turkington defend his title in 2010?

[porsche962fan]

both ways driver is satisfied with team and team satisfied with driver there is no practical reason to change

and winning rthe indy titles should give a better posiition to attract sponsors

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

both ways driver is satisfied with team and team satisfied with driver there is no practical reason to change

Finances aren't a practical matter in BTCC?

[porsche962fan]

so now situation is where AMD is more expensive than Motorbase ?

[Alfisti]

AmD on this seasons form offer a driver/ sponsor a very competitive ride capable of top 10 solidly with a smattering of silverware. Motorbase offer a car way past it's best. And arguably lack top drawer engineering staff. I'd pay Shaun more than Dave for a ride, that's for sure. But if I had the licence and the money tree it would be Dick I'd really want to drive for.

[crmalcolm]

Originally Posted by porsche962fan

so now situation is where AMD is more expensive than Motorbase ?

I don't know. Do you know the cost of each seat?

[Pickles]

Announcement coming from Carl Boardley soon...

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?sto...91573397625846

[aland]

i reckon the amd drive will be more expensive than motorbase, its the whole package that has to be taken into account including corporate etc... give rory a fk8 and he will challenge for the title, would love to see him and his bro in law in a team together

[Jiiiiiiim]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

AmD on this seasons form offer a driver/ sponsor a very competitive ride capable of top 10 solidly with a smattering of silverware. Motorbase offer a car way past it's best. And arguably lack top drawer engineering staff. I'd pay Shaun more than Dave for a ride, that's for sure. But if I had the licence and the money tree it would be Dick I'd really want to drive for.

‘Offer’ Offered maybe, there might be something more temping that we don’t know about yet! Either in the way of main sponsor (reducing the cost of the ride) or in terms of car or maybe even both!?!

[Jay87]

Looks like next week could be interesting with laser, hard and boardley with an announcement. Do we think there will still be 30 cars or maybe less

[Pickles]

I think there will still be 30 cars.

[sceptic]

Originally Posted by Jay87

Looks like next week could be interesting with laser, hard and boardley with an announcement. Do we think there will still be 30 cars or maybe less

I think Boardley and HARD will be the same announcement.

And I expect Crees to be confirmed at HARD before the New Year too.

[S griffin]

I had a dream last night that Colin ended up joining Motorbase. Not sure where that came from!